Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/09/1999 01:20 PM House TRA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 9, 1999
1:20 p.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
DISCUSSION OF DRAFT PASSENGER FACILITY RESOLUTION
PRESENTATION: OVERSIGHT HEARING - ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
EXPANSION PROJECT
TAPE 99-8, SIDE(S) A & B
TAPE 99-9, SIDE(S)
CALL TO ORDER
CHAIR BEVERLY MASEK called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:20 p.m.
PRESENT
Members present at the call to order were Representatives Masek,
Halcro, Cowdery, Sanders and Kemplen. Representative Hudson
arrived as the meeting was in progress. Representative Kookesh was
excused.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
Number 0180
MARCO PIGNALBERI, Aide to Representative John Cowdery, gave an
explanation of the draft Passenger Facility Charge Resolution.
Number 0299
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY moved that the Committee agree to sponsor
the resolution and introduce it to the House. There being no
objections, the resolution will be sponsored by the House
Transportation Standing Committee and brought before the House.
CHAIR MASEK then asked for discussion of the Anchorage
International Airport Expansion Project.
Number 0419
MR. PIGNALBERI gave the background of the Anchorage Airport
Expansion Project. He noted that last year the Alaska State
Legislature approved $180 million in bonds which, combined with $26
million in federal highway funds and $25 million in Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) funds, gives the total project price
of $230 million. He said that the advertised price tag is $350
million with the off-airport projects included, and that the
terminal project is the single largest public works project the
state has undertaken. It is a highly visible project and the
public has high hopes for it.
MR. PIGNALBERI said that some clouds have gathered over the
project. The terminal cost has increased by 50,000 square feet and
construction cost estimates are $31 million over the original
estimate.
MR. PIGNALBERI felt that the public is not having enough input on
how to resolve the cost overruns and that traffic projections are
overestimated. Alaskans want to be proud of this project, he said,
and using the legislature's public process is the best way to
dispel any clouds of doubt.
Number 0881
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO suggested a subcommittee to address the
Anchorage Airport Expansion Project.
MR. PIGNALBERI agreed that might be a good idea, and added that the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT/PF) needs
to get more public input on the project.
Number 0953
KURT PARKAN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities (DOT/PF), presented an overview of the Anchorage
Airport Expansion Project. He mentioned that DOT/PF welcomes
oversight. He reported that Bob Walsh, Legislative Aide to
Representative Richard Foster, has attended nearly every weekly
meeting, and had been invited to each of the quarterly meetings
and other meetings that were called at the spur of the moment. A
discussion ensued regarding Bob Walsh and his affiliation with this
project.
Number 1228
MR. PARKAN introduced Dave Eberle, Program Director for Gateway
Alaska, and Don Ketner, Project Manager for the terminal
development portion of Gateway Alaska. Mr. Parkan summed up the
bond ratings for the project.
DAVE EBERLE, Program Director, Central Region Construction and
Operations, Gateway Alaska, presented an overview of the overall
project, and he talked about the budget and the schedule for the
project. Mr. Eberle stated that the airport project has been a
$230 million project from the beginning.
Number 1762
MR. EBERLE, in response to Representative Hudson's request for
clarification, explained that the Letter of Intent was for $48
million. Besides the $25 million, the other components include
rebuilding "runway 6 left 24 right," and have nothing to do with
the building of the airport. Also included in that figure is some
apron reconstruction, he added. The difference was never meant to
be part of the original $230 million project.
Number 1948
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO inquired whether the apron reconstruction was
between A5 and A9, and Mr. Eberle said yes.
MR. EBERLE went on to go over the project in depth, referring again
to the "Project Update" handout. He predicted that the terminal
would be open to the public in the spring of 2002.
Number 2120
DON KETNER, Project Manager for the Anchorage International Airport
Terminal Redevelopment Project, went into a lengthy explanation of
the project. He used two large charts which tracked the progress
of the current design and how the design has evolved.
Tape 99-8, Side B
Number 0565
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY inquired as to the size of the tour bus
area.
MR. KETNER referred Representative Cowdery to the picture in the
handout. He discussed the need for the tour area to be enclosed.
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked how they were able to increase the
square footage and keep the same cost.
MR. KETNER explained that they and the airlines had put in a lot of
work looking at ways to control the costs. He referred the
committee to the page titled "Schematic Design Scope Requirements,"
and the foldout following it. He stated that they had to explain
to the airlines that the baggage handling system had gone from $2.5
million to $13 million.
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked if the airlines would pay for the extra
costs directly, and Mr. Ketner said that would be a last resort.
Number 0915
MR. KETNER responded to several questions from Representative
Cowdery addressing the design plan of the covered walkway, possible
future moving sidewalks, and the fact that the airlines own the
gates. He explained the car rental area location, and addressed
Representative Hudson's question about cost overruns and funding
options.
Number 1457
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO mentioned that he had several questions for
Morton Plumb, Director, Anchorage International Airport, but Mr.
Plumb had left the teleconference phone that he had been on.
MR. KETNER and MR. PARKAN answered questions regarding the
Rise-Alaska contracts, discussed design and management agreements,
amendments and contracting.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY drew on his experience in the contracting
business regarding the cost of making changes, and he wondered if
they would be asking for more money before the project is
completed. He referred to a DOT/PF report that $14.5 million had
been spent in FY 94 or 97 for the project, and asked if this was in
addition to the $230 million.
MR. PARKAN said he would get back to the committee with that
answer.
Number 2066
CHAIR MASEK announced that she intended to continue this overview
discussion next week in joint session with the Senate
Transportation Standing Committee.
MR. PARKAN, in response to Representative Halcro's question about
constituent and air carrier concerns, stated that nothing regarding
the terminal project should affect the leases. He discussed HB 543
from a couple of years ago.
Number 2298
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO said that he had heard from a constituent
that the airport was considering expanding into the Sand Lake
gravel pit, and he asked if there had been any discussion of that
type of expansion.
MR. PARKAN noted that there had been some interest in developing
that area. He said that DOT/PF is hesitant to go forward on that
question until the master plan has been agreed upon. He assured
the committee that he will keep them informed regarding this issue.
Tape 99-9, Side A
Number 0202
CHAIR MASEK indicated that she would get back to Representative
Cowdery on the subject of a subcommittee to keep abreast of the
project during the interim.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked that DOT/PF keep tour bus companies
advised of any changes.
Number 0389
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the Committee
meeting was adjourned at 3:10 p.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at 130 Seward Street, Suite
211, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182, (907) 465-2214, and after
adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-first Alaska State
Legislature, in the Legislative Reference Library.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|